John Cabot University is nonsectarian, and Religious Life in our institution strives to enable our community to appreciate, respect, and contribute to its multicultural richness and diversity.
The Office of Religious Life serves as a resource to the entire community of all backgrounds, to help develop knowledge in the areas of religion and spirituality through chaplaincy, inter-group meetings and special events. The Office also serves as an umbrella to the Interfaith Initiative student group.
The Office of Religious Life can:
John Cabot University welcomes students from over 70 different countries in the world. The Office of Community Service, Religious Life and Multiculturalism serves as support to events promoting culture, diversity and inclusion, and provides guidance to the Multicultural Club and all of its sub-groups.
For more information, please email [email protected]
John Cabot University offers faith-based service opportunities where you can volunteer to make a difference in the local community.
STAND
Born out of the fight to stop genocide in Darfur, Sudan, STAND is devoted to creating a sustainable student network that actively fights genocide wherever it may occur. The mission of the STAND chapter at JCU is to raise awareness on the local underprivileged communities, and to volunteer at Centers that welcome those in need. STAND currently carries out community service activities at the three Centers: the Church of Santa Lucia del Gonfalone, Vo.Re.Co and at the Baobab Experience. Contact: [email protected]
L'Arche Community
Students can volunteer their time at L’ARCA, located by Ciampino, in a Community made up of people with and without physical and intellectual disabilities. The main goal at l’ARCA is to make new friends and give a hand in the variety of laboratories that the association offers. Volunteers are required to have beginners to intermediate knowledge of the Italian language.
Sant'Egidio Community
The Community of Sant'Egidio was created in 1968 and has over 60,000 members today. It is a movement of lay people that are dedicated to charity in Rome as well as all over the world. JCU students can volunteer their time preparing meals at San Bartolomeo, on the Tiber Island, and walk around the neighborhood distributing food to the needy of Trastevere.
In cooperation with Student Government and Grassroots, The Interfaith Initiative has proudly established a Meditation Garden on the JCU campus. The Garden is situated next to the Administrative Office in the Kushlan Wing and is open at all times for all John Cabot students.
The idea of the garden was born at an Interfaith meeting in Fall 2013 when students proposed the project. The 60 students at the meeting agreed that in regards to interfaith at John Cabot University, there was a need for a space dedicated to meditation and prayer, which has now been realized by a collective effort.
The Garden provides an environment for students to have a moment of contemplation in their busy lives. In addition, it is meant to serve as a place of prayer where students from different religious backgrounds can pray. The Garden welcomes all JCU students and will not exclude anyone. At the same time, the Interfaith Initiative invites all visitors to be mindful of the garden's spirit and purpose and kindly ask them to make sure that the space is used for meditation, reflection and prayer. The goal of the Garden is to be a place of individual reflection and at the same time a catalyst for symbolic sharing and respect among students.
Besides Student Government, all other clubs and STAND (student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network) have made donations, which made the finalization of the garden possible. Through teamwork and collaboration, the Garden has become an important project for students, by students.
Rome features some interesting and relevant organizations and institutes which regularly host activities and lectures on interfaith and religion. The Interfaith Initiative supports these events and will organize occasional 'outings' to explore interfaith in the neighborhood. To stay informed about our calendar and meetings, please email us at: [email protected].
Institutes Involved in Interfaith Initiatives in Rome
Comunità di Sant'Egidio
Pontifical Institute on Arabic and Islamic Studies
Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
The Focolari Movement - Romaamor
Confronti
Cipax
International Foundation for Inter-religious and Intercultural Education
Religions for Peace
In addition to interfaith and religious organizations, there are multiple points of references in Rome for prayer and devotion for people from all religious backgrounds. Please see our list of references for more information on masses, religious services, places of worship, and other religious homes in Rome. Feel free to email the Interfaith Initiative for any additional information.
Places of Worship and Cultural Centers
Buddhist Temples in Rome
Mosques in Rome
Catholic Services in Rome in English (and other languages)
Anglican, Baptist, Coptic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Protestant and Presbyterian Services in Rome
Synagogues and Jewish Communities in Rome
For additional information on how to get connected with a specific religious community, please contact [email protected].
Christian Chaplancy
JCU is offering Christian Chaplaincy services to all its students, staff and faculty in collaboration with the Church of Santa Dorotea and the University Pastoral Office for the Vicariate of Rome. Father Riccardo Lufrani can be contacted for Spiritual Direction, Confessions, Sacraments and also simply to have a chat.
Languages: English and Italian
Please make an appointment by emailing: [email protected]
Methodist Chaplancy
JCU is offering Methodist Chaplaincy services to all its students, staff and faculty in collaboration with the Churches Together in Rome. Reverend Tim Macquiban can be contacted for Spiritual Direction and Masses in English.
Languages: English
Please make an appointment by emailing: [email protected]
The Interfaith Initiative wishes to encourage students at John Cabot University to be active within their international community by participating in dialogue. At the same time, the Initiative's aspiration is for students to gain knowledge and religious literacy. Through periodically organized lectures and seminars on relevant topics, the Initiative hopes to provide students with a means to get academically acquainted with different religions and philosophies and their role in the world today.
Interfaith Coffee Break
The Interfaith Coffee Break is meant to bring students from different backgrounds together to talk about religion, faith, spirituality and their role in society through sharing their own experiences and ideas. Through these conversations, the Coffee Break aspires to create a more casual atmosphere in which students can brainstorm and converse on different topics and themes. In addition, the Initiative wishes to strengthen the John Cabot community by getting to know each other on different levels while enabling religious tolerance through inter-cultural friendships. The Interfaith Initiative also uses these meetings to lay the groundwork for organizing future events and activities. The Interfaith Coffee Break is structured like a forum, including a panel of students who represent different standpoints and lead the conversation.
International Scholar Series on Interfaith Dialogue
In 2014 the JCU Interfaith Initiative received a generous grant from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome to fund an International Scholar Series on Interfaith dialogue. The Series promotes student dialogue and learning activities and introduces students to interfaith scholars and practitioners from Rome and beyond. The Lectures are open to visitors as well as students from other universities.
Past Lectures
• Dr. Anthony Carroll, Professor of theology and philosophy at Heythrop College at the University of London, on "Atheist Secular Dialogue"
• Archbishop David Moxon, the diplomatic appointment of the Anglican Church to the Holy See, on "Human Trafficking"
• Marco Veronesi and Sarah Parisio from the L'Arche Communities on "Faith, Service and Disability"
• Dr. Fadi Daou and Dr. Nayla Tabbara, co-directors of Lebanon's Adyan Foundation, on "Beyond dialogue, Spiritual solidarity versus Extremism: the experience of Adyan Foundation"
• Imam Yahya Pallavicini, Vice President of the Italian Islamic Community on "Imams in the West."
